RUTHLESS INDIA

RANCHI:India have evolved into a “multi-dimensional” team capable of winning anywhere in the world and irrespective of the nature of pitches, captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri said after the side''s 3-0 series sweep against South Africa.

The Indian team members pose with the trophy after winning the three-match series against South Africa in Ranchi. PTI

RANCHI, October 22

India have evolved into a “multi-dimensional” team capable of winning anywhere in the world and irrespective of the nature of pitches, captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri said after the side's 3-0 series sweep against South Africa. Kohli and his men won the third Test by an innings and 202 runs to complete a whitewash that also consolidated their lead in the World Test Championship race.

It was India's 11th consecutive victory in a home Test series and Kohli was particularly pleased how his pace attack, despite missing Jasprit Bumrah, refused to let the spinners hog the limelight. “To be the best side in the world you need to be multi-dimensional and all facets of your team have to fire and work properly,” Kohli said at the presentation ceremony as he singled out the pacers for special praise.

“Spin was always a strength, batting was never a problem for us. Fast bowling was very good at certain times and then all these young bowlers came,” he said. “Batsmen gave confidence to the bowlers, bowlers gave us amazing confidence that even with 300 on board, we're always in every Test match.”

Belief

Kohli, who led India to their first Test series win in Australia earlier this year, said it was the continuation of the same mindset. “We certainly believe we can win anywhere in the world at the moment. You know, if we believe in ourselves, the way we are at the moment, we can win in England, Australia, South Africa, anywhere and that is the belief that we need to carry,” he said.

India have traditionally been formidable at home but struggled abroad, especially on lively surfaces which often defanged their spinners and exposed technical limitations of many of their batsmen. Shastri said the team was determined to succeed regardless of the nature of the surface. “Our motto was to take pitches out of the equation — to hell with pitches,” the former Test player said. “Whether it's Johannesburg or Melbourne or Mumbai, we want to take the pitch out of the equation. With the batting line-up we have, if they post big totals and then we have bowlers who can take 20 wickets — we can keep taking those World Championship points we are after,” he added. Rohit Sharma was named the Man of the Series for topping the run-getters' list but Shastri was pleased that there were other heroes too. “Normally in India, you have two players who hog the limelight. Here we've had six or seven players,” he said. — Reuters

Coach, captain's support helped me: Rohit

India opener Rohit Sharma feels the belief of skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri in his abilities has helped him cement his opening position in Tests, but he also credited his own perseverance for the magnificent run so far. “The support of the coach and captain helps. I am thankful for the opportunity to the management for that opening slot,” Rohit said. Rohit believes that it is only his mistakes that can get him out once he has done the hard work to survive the first hour. “I always believe that once you are in, it is only mistakes that can get you out. We saw how hard it was to counter that new ball, and once you pass that stage, it's all about how you want to pace yourself. I kept telling myself I want to be there, I want to get a big score and take my team to a good position,” he said. — PTI

Numbers game

11 Test series win for India (two one-off Tests) at home since losing to England in December 2012. South Africa last lost consecutive Tests by an innings in 1935-36 against Australia

1ST Ever clean sweep by India over South Africa in Test cricket

222Runs in 255 balls, including 28 fours and 6 sixes, in the series for Man of the Match Rohit Sharma

35The difference in wickets taken by India and South Africa in this series. South Africa picked up 25 to India’s 60. There are only three instances of a higher difference in wickets in a three-match series

52.60The difference in bowling averages for both the sides. It is the fifth-highest in a three-match series. The Indian bowlers averaged 22.84 while South Africa's averaged 75.44

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